The deadline for the EU and UK to reach a deal – the end of this year – is fast approaching, but Brussels’ chief negotiator Michel Barnier has warned an agreement by then is unlikely. He said last month: “The UK is effectively asking for near total exclusion of EU fishing vessels from UK waters. That is simply unacceptable.” He added that the EU was willing to accept that “there may be change to the benefit of UK fishermen” but that it would not be at the price of the “destruction of the EU fishing industry”.
Mr Barnier continued: “Over the past few weeks the UK has not shown the same level of engagement and readiness to find solutions respecting the EU fundamental principles and interests.
“It means simply that by its current refusal to commit to the condition of open and fair competition, and to a balanced agreement on fisheries, the UK makes a trade agreement at this point unlikely.”
While Brussels plays hardball in trade talks, Mr Barnier will be under pressure to deliver for member states whose fishermen rely on UK waters.
Dutch fishermen warned that half of their business could be wiped out if they are suddenly excluded from Britain’s fishing grounds.
Guido Betsema is a fisherman from the Netherlands, and he expressed his fears about the prospect of losing access.
He said: “Brexit came as a surprise to us, and not a good surprise.
“I am worried. It is like a monster emerging.
“I fish in British waters 80 percent of the year, and if I’m not allowed to fish there anymore, I’ll have to go somewhere else.
“But other colleagues are already fishing in Dutch waters, so if I go there we have to share.”
READ MORE: French fishermen warn ‘we’re coming for your waters’ post-Brexit
The pair made these claims in a 2017 interview with DW.
A huge trawler named Cornelis Vrolijk – which operates out of Amsterdam’s huge port – became the centre of debate around EU fisheries laws after the shocking revelation.
The trawler is one of the largest in Europe: a mighty 370ft long, capable of hauling in 150 tons of herring and mackerel at a time.
The boat helped the Dutch family make a significant profit – but its fish were caught in UK waters.
Astonishingly, it was reported in 2014 that Cornelis Vrolijk held 23 percent of the entire English quota.
